I looked Liese straight in the eye as I spoke. In response, she turned her face down to the ground. Now that I was speaking directly into the crown of her head, I chose to air a more personal grievance.
“Honestly, it hurts to hear my lover quibble over manners and niceties when we’re in private like this. Liese, the adorable way you usually carry yourself overjoys me to no end... So much so that I’m wondering what nosy snob’s careless remarks got you like this.”
My wording was akin to a subdued tantrum. It was childish, even for me. Yet my sincerity came through, and Liese’s face shot up to meet mine.
“Um, you see...” Liese mumbled. “I’ve had cause to reexamine my actions in the near past.”
“And what was that?” I said, furrowing my brow. “Did someone comment on your demeanor?”
“No, nothing of the sort. However, when we visited the palace for a New Year’s greeting...” Liese trailed off and looked off into space, trying to find the right words. I watched her with a tilted head for a short while, and she eventually readied herself with a sigh. “...Fiene had gotten along with everyone in just one meeting.”
A few days prior, the main branch of House Riefenstahl had come to visit the royal palace. I distinctly recalled how Fiene had managed to naturally fit in within minutes of entering the scene.
“I have frequented the palace since I was a young girl,” Liese said. “As I went to meet you and receive instruction from Her Majesty, I slowly earned the respect of those who call the castle home. Yet no matter how many years I dedicated to court life, not once have I seen the sorts of smiles that Fiene brought to the palace.”
What Liese said was true. She was strict on both herself and others, and her distant beauty made it even harder for others to casually smile her way. On the other hand, Fiene’s ignoble upbringing made it easy for others to converse with her; in fact, it seemed that many doted on her like they would a young sister or daughter.
“Well,” I said, “I’ll admit that Miss Fiene’s ability to charm others is astonishing. But that charisma is one of her unique traits, and I think you’re plenty alluring in your own way, Liese.”
Unfortunately, Liese’s mood did not improve. She merely shook her head from side to side without any energy.
“My sister has the power to lift up all those around her. Everybody loves her, and I’m sure that will include the populace. I can’t help but worry that voices will arise to say she should have been queen. I wanted to find a way to earn the good will of others, like she does, and...like you do, Your Highness. So I sought to imitate you.”
Apparently, the faux smile that had borne a striking resemblance to my own had been an intentional counterfeit. Yet that seemed strange to me.
“Why not imitate your sister?” I asked.
“I couldn’t.” Liese vigorously shook her head. “I gave up within three seconds.”
“Three seconds?!”
“Initially, I tried to replicate her cheery smile and practiced with a mirror. Alas, I simply am not cut out for such things.”
“...Can I see?”
I failed to hold back my curious nature. Liese hesitated for a moment, but eventually opened her mouth for a wide grin much like Fiene’s. It did not work.
Argh! Why is your dumb smile so stupidly cute?! You’re the cutest girl in the whole world! Her features were so stiff that it cast doubt as to whether she was smiling in joy or seething with rage. I wanted to shout my feelings for her to hear, but I barely managed to hold myself back. I couldn’t cry out and I definitely couldn’t laugh. Liese was trying her best!
Whether Liese recognized my internal struggle or whether she simply grew embarrassed from her failed attempt was hard to say, but she quickly shook the expression off her face regardless. Now bright red, she cleared her throat more than a few times.
“A-At any rate, I concluded that a more modest smile would be a better fit for me. Thus, I chose to model myself after your gentle demeanor, responding to anything and everything with a polite smile. Perhaps I’d taken it a smidge too far, leading to the distance you felt as of late.”
Oh, I see. This put me in quite a pickle. Liese’s objective was inherently flawed, but I would rather not explain why that was so.
“Hmm...” I groaned.
Even so, I had no choice but to speak. I took a deep breath and began my spiel with a disclaimer.
“I’m going to say something awful to you, okay?” I said.
“Something...awful?” Liese asked.
“That’s right. Something so awful that you might fall out of love with me when I put it into words.”
“I would never!”
Seeing Liese make her claim with such confidence before hearing what I had to say tickled my heartstrings. Her affection helped give me the courage to tell her the ugly truth.
“Ha ha, thank you. All right, here it is: when you let your disdain show on your face, sternly put others in their place, or even carry yourself in a way that causes others to fear you...it helps me out a lot.”
“...What?” Liese’s mind went blank with surprise.
“I have things that I like and dislike too,” I went on. “But all my life, I’ve been told not to let anyone on to what those things are. That, along with my absentminded nature, makes me slow to react, especially when it comes to anger. When you get upset in my stead, it helps me and makes me incredibly happy. What I’m trying to say is, your barbed disposition is a great boon to me when you’re by my side.”
Feeling down from my own explanation, I heaved a sigh. How pathetic could I be? I left the horrible task of playing the villain to Liese, relishing in my position as the kind prince loved by all... I was cowardice incarnate.
I knew there was a chance Liese could grow sick of me if she found out, and that had caused me to drag my feet. Yet between letting her kill her own personality and having her leave my side in disgust, the latter was far more palatable. She remained dumbfounded, so I continued on with another quiet sigh.
“I’m essentially a pitiful wimp hiding in your shadow. All the people in the castle know that I’m weak and wouldn’t be able to hold my ground against rulers from foreign realms. They all want a queen as steadfast as you. There are many who dote on Miss Fiene wherever she goes, but I’m certain that there are even more people who love your proud virtues, Liese.”
Liese was still frozen, but a smile made its way to my lips. I went on.
“My mother says that she can trust you without me, but fears the day I meet a foreign king without you. My father told me he won’t step off the throne if you aren’t the queen at my side.”
Liese’s status as the saint who had resurrected the Goddess of Creation naturally played a part, but my parents were incredibly fond of her in every other sense too.
“They said that?” Liese asked, tears welling in her eyes.
“So will I.” I leaned on her and took her hand. “I can’t imagine a life without you. Please, won’t you stay with me just the way you are?”
“Sieg...” Liese finally called me by my name. She squeezed my hand back with a happy smile.
Thank the gods. I let relief run through my heart. Having her accept my weaknesses was cause for celebration, but the more important fact was that she no longer seemed intent on pushing herself to fit a mold not made for her.
Liese was at her best when she was a tsun de rais. Not that I’d say that, of course. Yet for some reason, her eyes squinted into a glare.
“Sieg? Are you thinking something strange?”
First Art and now Liese. The people around me were too perceptive. Or perhaps I was just that easy to read...
My mother had noted how expressionless I was not too long ago. Maybe my time with Lord Endo and Lady Kobayashi had been enough to change me. The thought filled me with a mysterious delight, and I broke out into a genuine grin.
“Not at all,” I said. “I was just thinking that you really are the cutest girl in the world, Liese.”
“S-Stop! Don’t think you can string me along with that smile of yours! I’m not c-cute...”
Liese tried to pull back her hand, but I refused to let go. As we silently played tug of war, I felt like we were both being silly.
“Pft,” Liese chuckled. “Aha ha ha!”
It seemed I wasn’t alone. Our intertwined fingers lost all semblance of strength as we simply laughed in another’s embrace.